San Diego  A driver accused of being under the influence of methamphetamine more than a month ago when his car was hit by a Poway fire engine, killing his 19-year-old passenger, pleaded not guilty Monday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Robbie Dean Gillespie, 45, of San Diego also faces felony drug possession and a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of methamphetamine, stemming from a separate incident a couple days before the June 20 crash.

Killed that day was Evelyn Jean Courtney, who lived with her parents in Poway. She was an aspiring model who had attended Poway and Mount Carmel high schools.

San Diego Superior Court Judge David Szumowski set Gillespie’s bail at $350,000 and appointed the Public Defender’s Office to represent him.

Deputy Public Defender Sal Tarantino had argued for lower bail — $100,000 — noting that although Gillespie had run-ins with law enforcement in the past, he had always shown up in court, and was not a flight risk.

Prosecutor Dan Link told the judge that on June 18 Gillespie was with several people, including two teenage girls, in a Poway hotel room, when sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant. The prosecutor said Gillespie had 1.89 grams of methamphetamine in his possession at that time, and he was arrested.

Courtney was not with the group at the hotel.

Gillespie posted bail the next day. Later, he met up with Courtney, whom he has described as a friend, and was reportedly driving her home about 4:15 a.m. when the crash occurred.

Link said Gillespie blew through a red light at the intersection of Poway and Midland roads and collided with a fire engine that had its flashing lights on. The prosecutor said the engine, which was traveling slightly above the speed limit at 39 mph to 42 mph, was being followed by an ambulance that also had its lights on.

The fire engine did not have its sirens on when it entered the intersection.

“The defendant barely slowed down, unfortunately, crashed right into that firetruck, and the victim was crushed and died at the scene,” Link said after the arraignment.

Gillespie was hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening. He was arrested but then released when the District Attorney’s Office did not immediately charge him.

Link said Monday that the office waited to file charges until the incident had been investigated thoroughly. He said reports showed Gillespie had methamphetamine in his system at the time of the crash, although the prosecutor did not specify the level of intoxication.

“We believe that after taking the appropriate amount of time, we’ve charged the right crime,” Link said.

Gillespie was arrested last week at a Rancho Bernardo apartment. He moved there shortly after the crash, the prosecutor said. Gillespie’s wife and two children moved out.

Link said sheriff’s deputies went to the home on three occasions after Gillespie’s latest arrest, and found drugs there twice.

If convicted of all the charges, he could be sentenced to up to 10 years and eight months in prison.